Genesis 18

Abraham entertaineth three angels.

Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared to him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; Genesis 18:2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, Genesis 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: Genesis 18:5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that you shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth. Genesis 18:7 And Abraham ran to the herd, and brought a calf tender and good, and gave [it] to a young man; and he hasted to dress it. Genesis 18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Sarah is reproved for laughing at the strange promise.

Genesis 18:9 And they said to him, Where [is] Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. Genesis 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return to thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him. Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah [were] old [and] far advanced in age; [and] it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am become old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? Genesis 18:13 And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I certainly bear a child, who am old? Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return to thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 18:16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.

Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; Genesis 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know. Genesis 18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went towards Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Abraham maketh intercession for the men thereof.

Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Genesis 18:24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] in it? Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I, who [am] dust and ashes, have taken upon me to speak to the Lord. Genesis 18:28 Peradventure there will lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it]. Genesis 18:29 And he spoke to him yet again, and said, Peradventure there will be forty found there. And he said, I will not do [it] for forty's sake. Genesis 18:30 And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there will thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there. Genesis 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord: Peradventure there will be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty's sake. Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten will be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake. Genesis 18:33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.